Universal control while in clamshell mode?

[GBR]

To anyone running the beta’s, how does universal control work if you are using a MacBook Pro in clamshell mode attached to an external monitor?

 

[Martin29]

Perfectly!

 

[HowardEv]

Where does the universal control come in to play here? There is surely a cable to the monitor still?

 

[chabig]

Yes, but not to the iPad.

 

[Martin29]

I use an ultra wide display with my MacBook Pro in clamshell. I then have a MacBook Air and an iPad Pro, all working with universal control. Works like a dream

 

[claytontodd]

I use an ultra wide display with my MacBook Pro in clamshell. I then have a MacBook Air and an iPad Pro, all working with universal control. Works like a dream

I've tried everything I can find on the internet to get this to work, but every time I open my iPad it connects to my ultra wide while in clamshell for about 2min then disconnects. Please help.

 

[ridhaabooley]

Hi There Martin

I am having the same issue since this feature was released. I went into console to check my logs and found a few errors in the wifi log. Please see image/attachment below.

Does anybody have anyway of resolving this?

 

[JoshVic]

Hi There Martin

I am having the same issue since this feature was released. I went into console to check my logs and found a few errors in the wifi log. Please see image/attachment below.

Does anybody have anyway of resolving this?

Hi guys, I take this post again.

Did you finally solve the issue with universal control and the macbook pro in clamshell mode?
I have a Macbook Pro 14 M1 Pro and am having the same issue. Only with the lid open does the Universal Control work well.
If I open the lid a few centimeters (like 1-2cm), it works again but then I lose the connection after 2-3min.
I can't figure out if it is a defect of the macbook pro or if the universal control needs the lid to be open so that the bluetooth signal is strong enough.

 

[ridhaabooley]

Hi There.

I dont think its your manic. I had a 2018 Intel based mac - upgraded it to an M1 mac and im still having the same issue

 

[JoshVic]

Hi There.

I dont think its your manic. I had a 2018 Intel based mac - upgraded it to an M1 mac and im still having the same issue

Could you tell me exactly the devices you are trying to connect with the universal control?
In my case I have an iPad Pro 12.9 4th and MacBook Pro 14 M1 Pro.

As we have seen if the macbook pro is in clamshell mode I cannot connect to my iPad even if I keep it close to the macbook.

Today I did another test with my old MacBook pro 13 2016. Incredibly it can connect to my other macbook pro M1 Pro which is in clamshell mode without any problem. The connection is stable.

At this point I believe:

1. That there is some apple limitation in connecting iPads with Macbook Pro in clamshell mode. Not very likely from my point of view.

2. The Macbook Pro in clamshell mode loses some of the Bluetooth signal combined with the Bluetooth of the iPads which is not so strong, making it impossible to use Universal Control.
I think there is a signal threshold that Apple requires for Universal Control to work.

3. There is a problem with the iPadOS, although I find it unlikely. I have tried with both iPadOS 15.5 and iPadOS 16 (latest beta).

4. I have a faulty Bluetooth module on my iPad (I hope not 😅)